Eugene Spann, Sr., husband of the late Kathryn Estelle Joyner Spann, died Thursday, March 4, 2010 at the Tuomey Healthcare System.  Born in  Sumter County, he was a son of the late Timothy Spann, Sr. and Maggie Williams Spann.  Mr. Spann was baptized as a Jehovah's Witness and was a dedicated and faithful member of the East Sumter Congregation of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses for over fifty years.  He was educated in the Sumter County public schools and was formerly employed by: Brooklyn Cooper, W.B. Boyles Hardware Store, Model Dye and the Exide Corporation. In 1991, he retired as a Team Lead Supervisor from the Exide Corporation. Mr. Spann had a passion for life.  He was a family man who enjoyed music, old movies, reading and engaging in mentally stimulating conversations, and was an avid Bible scholar.

 

In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by five brothers:  Emanuel, Willie (Bill), David, Ernest, and Timothy, Jr.; two grandsons, Sebastian Edward Moore and Jamal Oliver Spann.

 

Surviving are his caring wife, Mary Josephine Williams Spann of Sumter; his devoted and loving children: Eugene (Femina) Spann, Jr. and John W. (Dieanne) Spann of Sumter; Michael O. (Nadia) Spann and Lynn O. (Madolyn) Spann of Atlanta, Ga.; two daughters Vivian Spann Moore of Marietta, GA, and Maggie Spann Kelley of Decatur, GA; thirteen grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; four sisters: Jeanette Butler and Wilhelmenia Houston of New Haven, Ct.; Ruby (Doris) Cain of Washington, D.C. and a devoted sister,  Maggie Williams of Sumter; one brother-in-law; five sisters-in-law; two special nieces, Earnestine Kirkland and Mary Moore both of New Haven, Ct. and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

 

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at the East Sumter Congregation of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses with Brother Frank Bruce conducting the Memorial Discourse, assisted by Brother Jason London.  Interment will follow in the Hillside Memorial Park.  Mr. Spann will be placed in the Kingdom Hall for public viewing from 10:00 a.m. Wednesday until the hour of service. The public may view Mr. Spann from 2:00- 8:00 p.m.and the family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday evening at the Palmer Memorial Chapel, 304 South Main Street. The funeral procession will depart 10:00 a.m. Wednesday from the Spann residence of 1132 Florence Highway in Sumter.

 

On-line memorials may be sent to: palmermemorialchapel.com

Palmer Memorial Chapel of Sumter is in charge of funeral arrangements